Archive for the 'Trashcan Sinatras' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

June 4th, 2010, 12:55 pm by GEORGE A. PAUL, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

There's something about the allure of Scottish music. Through the years, the country has spawned an impressive crop of bands that specialize in sophisticated, highly melodic and frequently orchestrated alternative pop.

During the '80s, that list included Aztec Camera, the Edwyn Collins-led Orange Juice and Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. The following decade began with the arrival of Trashcan Sinatras and ended with the cultish rise of Belle & Sebastian, among others.

The Sinatras, hailing from an altogether different Irvine -- located 25 miles southwest of Glasgow -- debuted with the wonderful album Cake, one of my year-end Top 10 picks for 1990. Rife with shrewd wordplay and jangly, atmospheric sounds, the disc found success at college and modern rock radio (KROQ had singles “Only Tongue Can Tell” and “Obscurity Knocks” in heavy rotation and booked the Sinatras for its inaugural Almost Acoustic Christmas concert), while MTV got on board via airplay on the influential alt-rock video-clip program 120 Minutes.

The sextet's sophomore work, I've Seen Everything, was equally engaging, but emerging at the height of grunge in 1993, it went unjustly ignored. Financial and record label troubles soon led to large gaps between future stateside releases.

But after a six-year absence the band is finally back with an enthralling fifth studio album, In the Music. Produced by Andy Chase (who in the past has worked with Ivy and Brookville), its tunes about love and religion often boast a sunnier-than-usual vibe. Carly Simon even turns in a rare guest vocal appearance.